December. Fruit And Vegetable Gardening. Seasonable Hints

Description

December. Fruit And Vegetable Gardening. Seasonable Hints

Very little can be done now in this department, except by way for preparation for another year.

In the fruitgarden, there is not much to be done besides thinning of branches where too thick, cutting out weak or exhausted ones, so as to give place to younger or stronger ones, - and, where there are scale insects on the bark, washing to get rid of them. When a tree is badly infested, the twiggy portion should be wholy cut away so as to more perfectly clean the balance.

Manure can be placed on the ground wherever required, and Asparagus beds, if not already done, should have a slight covering of it. Bean poles, Pea-brush, and stakes of all kinds should be got now, the tool house gone over and put in order, and everything kept in good order and studiously in its place. When the season of operation commences, there will then be nothing to hold back the attention.

Where there can be heat of 60° commanded, Bush Beans can be usually grown in pots, and can be gathered in two months from time of sowing.

If there is abundance of leaves or manure at command, and small frames, beds may be put up for early Spring salads, at the end of the month. Radishes and Lettuces are, however, very impatient of too much heat; they will come on well if the temperature be kept at 45°. When it goes above that, the sashes should be lifted en. tirely off. The same remarks apply to the Potato and the Early Horn Carrot.

Cauliflowers in frames require all the air possible. Never allowed to become dry, this is the cause of many failures by way of " buttoning off".